Mechanism for assembling and inserting enclosures in envelopes



Oct. 20, 1936. E. P. DONNELLAN 2,058,005

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLiNG AND INSERTYING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 16, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR Oct. 20, 1936. Y E. P. DONNELLAN MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 16, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 1N VEN TOR. gdz/a/JFiww/M;

ATTORNEYS.

E. P. DONNEL'LAN 2,058,005

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Oct. 20, 1936.

Filed Jan. 16, 1935 9 sheets-Sheets 11v VEN TOR. E wardfflama/ia; B Y

A T TORN E Y5 Oct. 20, 1936.

E. P. 'DQNNELLAN MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 16, 1935 Oct. 20, 1936. E. P. DONNELLAN MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 16, 1935 ,9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Ecgzjo dffl onnella 7 ATTQRNEY Oct. 20, 1936. v P. DONNEL'LAN 2,053,005

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSEBTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 16, 1955 9 Sheets-$heet 6 7 l 6 I as l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1936.

E. P. DONNELLAN MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 16, 1935 9 ShEGCS-Shet 7 Q E (ii/art flan/76161 g ,dfl

\ ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1936. P. DO-NNELLAN MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 16, 1935 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Oct. 20, 1936. E. P. DONNELLAN MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 16, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 9' zia farciz ponnel INVENTOR ATTORNEY:

Patented Oct. 20, 1936 PATENT GFFICE MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING AND IN- SERTING ENCLOSURES IN ENVELOPES Edward P. Ilonnellan, Brooklyn, N. Y Application January 16, 1935, Serial No. 2,045

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic mechanism for assembling material from one or more sources of supply and thereupon inserting the same into envelopes.

This invention has for its main object to generally improve the various mechanisms making up a machine for the purposes described, whereby in the performance of its functions, the same is under eflicient control against errors, while being rapid and efficient in operation.

With this general object in view, more specific objects are to improve the delivery magazines and feed of material therefrom for assembly and insertion in envelopes; to provide eiiicient and reliable automatic stop means adapted to arrest operation of the machine in the event of delivery from one or more of the magazines of excess material; to provide additional automatic stop means for stopping the machine in the event of failure of delivery of material from any magazine; to provide means for stopping the machine after a predetermined quantity of material has been delivered, assembled. and inserted in envelopes; to provide additional improved means for stopping the machine in the event an envelope containing excess material is discharged from the machine; and to provide means for stopping the machine when envelopes are exhausted, and for otherwise automatically controlling the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide .a novel electric drive and control for the machine, the novel circuit of which includes the various automatic stop means above mentioned.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the invention, and will be comprehended in the appended claims.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel assembling and inserting machine according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section, showing the assembling mechanism of the machine; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through a material magazine and delivery mechanism associated therewith, said section being I taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1, and being drawn viewed from right to left in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line ill-i0 in Fig. 1, showing more especially the envelope feeding and delivery means, and Fig. 11 is a similar view showing operative positions of this mechanism preparatory to delivering an envelope withdrawn from the magazine to the loading station; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of envelope gripping and conveying means, Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the same, Fig. 14 is a rear end elevation thereof, and Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section thereof, taken on line i5-i5 in Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged detail sectional view of a stop means actuated by envelopes containing excess material, this view being taken on line Iii-i6 in Fig. 1; Fig. 17 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the solenoid actuated power circuit make and break switch means of the machine, the same being taken on line il--I1 in Fig. 1; Fig. 18 is a circuit diagram of the novel electric power and control circuits of the machine; and Fig. 19 is a perspective view of insertable control circuit bridging contact means used for certain stopping purposes.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

The mechanism making up the machine is mounted upon supporting frame-work l, a portion 2 of which provides a material gathering runway platform. Arranged along the inward side of the runway platform 2 are a series of material holding magazines together with delivery mechanism therefor adapted to transfer from the magazines to the runway platform the items of the material to be assembled together.

The material holding magazines may be of any suitable make up or design operative to support stacks of material for withdrawal and delivery therefrom. Illustrative ,of one form of such magazine, as shown in the drawings, each such magazine may comprise U-shaped bracket frame 3 suitably secured to a stationary longitudinal upstanding flange 4 carried by the framework i. Adjustable on the arms of the bracket frame 3 are side plates 5. Secured by clamp-element 6 in connection with the frame-work flange l are supporting rods 1 which are downwardly inclined between the arms of the bracket frame 3 and their side plates toward the inward discharge and of the magazine. Slidably adjustable on said supporting rods 1 is a. backing block 8, the same being preferably provided with an inclined face 9 at its forward side.

Suitably journaled in connection with the frame-work I is a longitudinal drive shaft M, which is driven through suitable transmission means, including a chain and sprocket drive H, from an electric power motor 12. Also suitably journaled in connection with the frame-work l is a longitudinal jack-shaft 13 which lies adjacent to and somewhat below the inward discharge ends of the material holding magazines, this shaft being driven from said drive shaft l8 through gearing ll. This jack-shaft is operative to actuate ejector wheels 15, which are respectively cooperative with the respective material holding magazines. Each ejector wheel is loosely mounted on the jack-shaft, and is provided in connection with a portion of its periphery with segmental shoulders it, preferably oil-set respectively from opposite sides of the wheel. Upon these shoulders are suitably supported facings ll of frictional material, such e. g. as rubber, operative arcuate portions of which are disposed parallel to and somewhat outwardly offset from the wheel circumference. The wheel at one side is provided with a hub extension it, a portion of which is cut away to provide for lost motion between the sides 18' and I8" thereof and a projecting drive pin 19 with which the jack-shaft is provided. At its opposite side, the wheel is provided with a. hub extension 20 having a circumferential cam portion 2!, the purpose of which will be subsequently disclosed.

Mounted on the frame-work l to extend longitudinally between the discharge ends of the material holding magazines and the runway platform 2 is a housing 22 provided with spaced bearing partitions 23. Journaled in said bearing partitions 23 is a. driven shaft 24, the same being preferably continuously driven from a separate electric power motor 25 by a belt 26 or other suitable transmission means. Material delivery roll mechanisms for each magazine are actuated by said shaft 21]. Each delivery roll mechanism comprises a driven bottom roll 21 fixed upon said shaft 2! to lie intermediate a cooperating ejector wheel 15 and the runway platform 2. Disposed above and cooperating with the driven bottom roll 21 are a pair of idler rolls arranged in yieldable contact therewith, one of said idler rolls, as 28, engaging the right hand end portion of the driven roll 2], and the other idler roll, as 28, engaging the left hand end portion of the latter (see Fig. 8). Each idler roll is supported upon the spindle arm 30 (upon which it rotates) of a lever arm 31 pivotally mounted in connection with a bearing partition 23 for vertical swinging movement controlled by a pull spring 32, whereby the idler rolls are yieldably urged toward and in operative engagement with the driven rod 21.

Sheet or like material 33, successively to be delivered from the magazines onto the rlmway platform 2, is stacked in the magazines so as to be supported between the side plates 5 and upon the downwardly sloping supporting rods I, with the aooaooo leading ends of the stacked material overlying the ejector wheel l5, whereby the latter at proper times may act upon the bottom sheet or item of such stack. A suitable stripper means is provided to cooperate with the ejector wheel l5 for holding back the stack of material 33 in such manner that said wheel is efiective in operation only upon the bottom sheet or item of the stack. Illustrative of one serviceable form of such means, a hold-back or stripper roll 34, preferably rubber faced, is supported by a vertically adjustable carrier frame 35, the latter being slidably related to the housing 22 subject to vertical adjustment by means of an adjusting screw 35 rotatably carried thereby and threaded through a. stationary nuz-lug 3! connected with said housing 22. Such mounting of the hold-back or stripper roll 34 permits of adjusting the hold-back or stripper roll 34 in a fixed position relative to the periphery of the ejector wheel I5 so as to be spaced therefrom at a distance equivalent to the thickness of a single sheet or item to be withdrawn from the magazine. To further assist in holding back the main bulk of the stack of material a spring tongue 38 aifixed to and dependent from the carrier frame 35 is provided to lie between the forward end of the stack and said hold-back or stripper roll 31.

The operation of the-material delivery mechanisms, with respect to the devices thus far disclosed is as follows:

Rotation of the jack-shaft 13 carries the drive pin l9 into engagement with the side I8 of the hub extension 18 of ejector wheel 15, thereby rotating the latter in the direction of the arrow appearing in Fig. 4. Such rotation of the ejector wheel carries the frictional facings l'l thereof into engagement with the lowermost sheet or item of the material 33, and by frictional engagement thereof slides the same outwardly from the magazine and from beneath the remainder of the stacked material which is held back or stripped therefrom by the hold-back or stripper roll 34, the spacing of the latter relative to the ejector wheel allowing the bottom sheet or item to move outwardly beneath the same. The scope of infiuence of the frictional facings of the ejector wheel l5 is suihcient to carry the leading end of the outwardly moved sheet or item of material into engagement with the delivery rolls 2'! and 28-29, whereby such leading end is engaged by the nip of the latter rolls and thereby propelled outwardly for discharge upon the runway platform 2. The peripheral speed of the delivery rolls is considerably higher than that of the ejector wheel 15, and consequently the lost motion between the jack-shaft l3 and said ejector wheel l5 is provided, to the end that the latter will not exert a drag or check upon the outward movement of the sheet or item once it is engaged by the delivery rolls. As a result of this 10st motion, the ejector wheel i5 is free to accelerate its movement under the pull of the material propelled by the delivery rolls, by reason of the fact that the hub shoulder M of the ejector wheel, under accelerated movement of said wheel, may move onward away from the more slowly moving drive pin l9. By this arrangement no undue strain is exercised upon the delivered material with risk of mutilating or otherwise injuring the same.

Arranged beneath the runway platform 2 is a trackway plate 39 which is supported from the frame-work by pivoted lever members 40 and 40,

whereby said trackway plate may be raised and aotaoos material propulsion means to active propelling position and lower the same to inactive retracting position. The propulsion means comprises channeled guides 41 extending longitudinally below andadjacent to Opposite sides of the track way plate 39, said guides 4| being suitably supported by the machine frame-work. Arranged for sliding reciprocable movement within said channeled guides 4| are slide-bars 42. Secured to the slide-bars 42 are upstanding posts 43, and

supported by laterally, opposed pairs of these posts 43 are laterally disposed propulsion bars 44 having anti-friction rollers 45 which ride upon the trackway plate 39, Said propulsion bars 44 are vertically slidable on their supporting posts, whereby the same will rise and fall in company with the timed verticalmovements of the trackway plate Carried by said propulsion bars 44, to project upwardly therefrom through longitudinal slots 46 with which the runway platform 2 is provided, are propulsion fingers 41. Said propulsion bars 44 correspond in number to the number of material feeding magazines with which the machine is equipped.

The means for raising and lowering the trackway plate 39 to bring the propulsion mechanism into active forward propelling position and then, upon completion of a propulsion stroke, to bring said propulsion mechanism into inactive position while being retracted for a succeeding propulsion stroke, comprises a timed actuating means operated from the drive shaft l0. Suitably journaled in a bearing support 48 is a lateral shaft 49 driven by miter gears 505l from said drive shaft I0. Fixed on said lateral shaft 49 is a cam 52 which actuates a bell-crank lever 53. This bell-crank lever 53 is in turn connected by a link 54 with the set of. lever members 40 which effect therise and fall of said trackway plate 39 (see Figs. 2 and 3), in timed relation to the longitudinal reciproca-, tions of the propulsion bars 44.

The means for producing the longitudinal reciprocations of the propulsion bars 44,.comprises oscillatable actuating levers 55 pivotally supported on the frame-work of the machine and having bifurcate free ends to engage drive pins 56 which are secured to the slide-bars 42. Said actuating levers 55 are oscillated by a rotating crank-arm !v fixed on and driven by said lateral shaft 49, said crank-arm being operatively connected by a link 58 which is pivoted to a cross arm 59 extending between the levers 55.,

In the operation of the machine enclosures from the different material magazines are simultaneously delivered upon the runway platform 2, whereupon the propulsion fingers 41, being raised to active propelling. position by elevation of the trackway plate 39, are moved forward so that successive enclosures are moved upon previouslydelivered enclosures, until an accumulated stack of all enclosures is deposited at the loading station L at the forward end of said runway platwardly and forwardly projecting carrier arm 60,

to the free end of which is attached a transverse carrier rod 6| which is spaced above therunway platform 2. Affixed to said carrier rod 6| are spaced bracket arms 62 to the free ends of which are pivotally connected vertically yieldable pusher members 63, which incline downwardly-and forwardly, so that their free ends ride upon the surface of said runway platform. By this, ar-

above described.

In order to prevent rearward displacement of the material as'it is advanced and accumulated on the runway platform 2 preparatory to delivery into an envelope by the inserting means, detent fingers 64 are provided at proper locations to hold the items of the accumulating material at the different stations to which the same are fed from the supply magazines, and also at the loading station L. Preferably these detent fingers 64 are pivotally connected with stationary transverse supporting rods 65, suitably held in place above the runway platform, so that the said detent fingers incline downwardly and forwardly therefrom, with their free ends yieldably engaging the surface of said runway platform, whereby the same will lift or yield to the passage of forwardly propelled material thereunder, but will engage and hold against backward movement the material which has been advanced beyond the same.

The means for deliveringand opening an envelope, ready to receive insertion of the accumulated material thereinto, will now be described. Suitably supported from the frame-work of the machine by a bracket 66, so as to dispose the same above a platformB'l with which the framework is provided at the discharge end of the machine, and which provides an envelope runway,

to the loading station L. Pneumatic means is' provided for successively withdrawing envelopes from the bottom of the magazine 68, subject to engagement by means for delivering the same in front of the loading station L. Supported by a fixed guide 10, for vertical reciprocable motion beneath the magazine 68, is a slide-piece H, upon the upper end of which is affixed a suction head 12 having suction nozzles 13. Said slide-piece H, and the suction head 12 carried thereby, is held against rotary displacement by an arm 14, the bifurcated free end of which embraces and rides on a vertical guide rib 15 which is suitably af fixed to the framework of the machine. The means for producing properlytimed vertical reciprocations of said suction head 12 comprises a pivoted oscillatable lever 16, one arm of which is pivotally engaged with the slide-piece H, and the other or opposite arms of which is engaged by an actuating cam 11, which is fixed upon and driven by the drive shaft Hi. Preferably the free end of the cam engaged arm of said lever 16 is provided with an anti-friction roller 18 with which the operative periphery of said cam Tl engages. Pneumatic suction is applied to the suction head 12 and its nozzles 13 by means of an air pump 19, theair intake side of which is connected with said suction head I2 through a flexible hose or conduit80. Said air pump 19 is preferably directly and continuously driven from its own electric power motor 8| through a belt and pulley or other suitable transmission 82. In operation the suction head 12 is raised so as to contact with its suction nozzles 18 the bottom or lowermost envelope of the stack thereof contained in the magazine 68, in which position a pivoted valve plate 83, carried by the suction head, is disposed to cover or close suction break vents 84 formed in the latter, so that suction effect is operative at the suction nozzles 13 to cause adherence of said bottom or lowermost envelope thereto. Said valve plate 83 is provided with a laterally projecting'striker pin 85 which, upon upward movement of the suction head, is engaged'by a fixed cam device 85 which operates to move the valve plate 83 to the described vent closing position, by the time said suction nozzles contact with the envelope to be removed from the magazine. The envelope having been thus engaged, and adhered by suction to the suction nozzles 13, continued operation of the suction head actuating means lowers said suction head, thereby withdrawing an engaged envelope downwardly and outwardly from the magazine 68, and thereupon lowering the same to the level of the platform 61 ready to be engaged by delivery means operative to carry the same into position opposite the loading station L, and ready to receive insertion of the accumulated material desired to be inserted thereinto. Preparatory to engagement of the envelope by such delivery means, pneumatic means are provided for swinging outwardly to envelope opening position the envelope closure fiap. This means comprises an air discharge nozzle 86, which is connected to the air discharge side of the pump 19 by suitable piping or conduit 81. As the envelope is drawn down and freed from the magazine 68, it is disposed in the path of a jet of air discharged by said nozzle 86, so that the blast of such jet strikes beneath the envelope fiap so as to raise and then fold back the same to open position.

The means for delivering the envelope which has been removed from the magazine 68 by the pneumatic extracting means above described, comprises a gripper carriage 88, which is reciprocable in a transverse guideway means 89 disposed beneath the platform 61. This carriage 88 is actuated, in timed relation to the envelope extracting means and to the material insertion mechanism, by a pivoted bell-crank lever 90, one arm of which is operatively coupled to the carriage by a connecting link 9|, and the other arm of which is connected through a link 92 to a rotatable crank-arm 93 which is actuated by the The upper portion of said cardrive shaft I0. riage 88 extends upwardly through a slot or way 94 provided in the platform 61 so as to ride therein, and so as to present an inner. upper portion of the carriage substantially at the level of the platform 61, which portion serves as the fixed jaw 95 of a gripper mechanism. A vertically opcrative movable jaw 96 of the gripper mechanism overlies and cooperates with said fixed jaw 95. Said movable jaw is provided with a shank portion 91 vertically slidable in a way provided therefore in the carriage, and said movable jaw 96 is normally maintained in closed relation to and upon the fixed jaw 95 by a spring 98. A movable jaw actuating means is also supported by the carriage so as to be capable of horizontal longitudinal reciprocable movement in relation thereto. This actuating means comprises a slidable cam bar 99, yieldably held in a forwardly projected relation to the carriage by a pull spring I00. This cam bar 99 is provided with a lift-cam portion IOI intermediate its ends, which is so related to the shank portion 91 of the movable gripper jaw 96 as to operatively engage the same. At the outer end of said guideway means 89 is a buffer lug I02 which, when the carriage is in retracted position, engages one end of the cam-bar 99 to thrust the same to its normally forwardly projected relation to the carriage. At the opposite ,or inner end of said guideway means 89 is another buffer lug I03 which, when the carriage is moved inwardly toward envelope gripping position, engages the opposite end of the cam-bar 99 to slide the same rearwardly for gripper jaw opening and closing effect as the carriage approaches and terminates its inward movement, as will presently be more fully explained. Projecting from the inner end of said carriage 88 is a fixed push-finger I04.

In the operation of the envelope delivery mechanism, as thus far described, as an envelope is extracted from the magazine 68 and positioned at the level of the platform 61, the carriage 88 is being moved inwardly toward the magazine by its timed actuating means. As the carriage approaches the end of this inward movement, the forward end of the cam-bar 99 is carried against the buffer lug I03 so that, as the carriage continues its inward movement, and accompanying movement of said cam-bar is arrested, the shank portion 91 of the movable jaw 96 will ride upwardly upon the lift-cam IOI, thus lifting the gripper jaw 96 to opened relation to the fixed jaw 95. As the carriage completes its inward movement, the fixed jaw 95 is carried beneath the presented envelope while the upper jaw is carried over the latter, whereupon the shank portion 91 of said upper jaw-moves down the forward side of the lift-cam IOI to engage in a notch or seat I05, thus lowering the upper jaw so as to grip the end of the envelope between the same and the lower fixed jaw, preparatory to retractive outward movement of the carriage. In the meantime, the push-finger I04, as advanced by the inwardly moving carriage, strikes the pivoted valve plate 83 of the suction head 12, so as to move the same to uncovering relation to the suction break vents 84, thus breaking the suction within the suction nozzles 13, and freeing the en velope therefrom ready for outward movement with the retracted carriage, whereby the envelope is carried to a position opposed to the loading station L, and ready to receive the accumulated material to be inserted therein. As the carriage approaches the end of its retractive or outward movement, the rearward end of the cam-bar 99, which is at this time projecting from the outer or rearward end of the carriage, is carried against the buffer lug I02 so that, as the carriage continues its outward movement, accompanying movement of the cam-bar is arrested, whereby the shank portion 91 of the movable gripper jaw 96 rides upwardly over the inner side of the liftcam IOI, thus opening the latter jaw to release the envelope at desired opposed position relative to the loading station. As the carriage completes its outward retractive movement, the shank-portion 91 of the movable gripping jaw 96 will ride down the outer side of the lift-cam IOI, all the parts being thereupon returned to normal initial positions.

Pivotally supported from the abutment plate 69 is a downwardly and outwardly inclined envelope positioning detent finger or stop I06, beneath which a delivered envelope passes as it is moved into position to receive insertions, and against which it can be disposed to assure its location in such position. Means arepivoted on the carriage 88 for engaging and moving a delivered envelope into stopped position against the detent finger or stop I 06, as the'carriage again moves inwardly for another envelope, and immediately prior to the insertion of accumulated material into the thus located deposited envelope. This means comprises a normally upstandingpivoted pushfinger I01 suitably but yieldably held in such upstanding position. When the carriage 88 is retracted to its outermost position, a pin I08 of this push-finger I0I is brought into engagement with an inclined fixed cam means I09, whereby the same is upturned to its operative position. When the carriage 88, after having delivered one envelope, is again moved inwardly to engage a succeedingv envelope for delivery, the upstanding pushfinger I0! is carried into engagement with the outer end of the delivered envelope so as to push the same back against the detent fingeror stop I06, whereupon the push-finger I01 is immediately engaged by a pin H0 or other suitable abutment, so as to be down-turned to inactive posiand the push-finger is again up-turned to active position on completion of the outward stroke or movement of the carriage 88.

The carriage 88 is also provided with a vertically retractible ejector means, which prior to the outward movement of the carriage operative to deliver a succeeding envelope opposite the loading station L, is raised, to its active position, so that the previously delivered envelope, which has in the meantime received its inserted content,

, may be engaged by the ejector means, and prothe cam-bar 99 is moved rearward by abutment against buffer lug I03, the lift-cam portion IOI moves under the shank-piece I I I, thereby raising the latter and thus projecting the propelling member I I2 above the surface of the platform 61. Now as the carriage moves outwardly to deliver a succeeding envelope to loading position, the upwardly projected propelling member II2 will engagethe inner end of the previously delivered and filled envelope, and thereupon slide the same outwardly and away from the loading station and off the outer end of the platform 61 whereupon it drops into the receptacle R, while, at the same time, the succeeding envelope is delivered into place opposite the loading station L. As the carriage 88 completes its outward movement, and the cam-bar 99 strikes the outer buffer lug I02, said cam-bar is forwardly moved relative to the carriage, thereby moving its lift cam portion IOI away from the shank-piece I I I, so that the latter moves downwardly to normal initial position wherein the propelling member H2 is again retracted to a plane below the topof the platform 61, and. so as to pass beneath the deposited succeeding envelope, when the carriage 88 again moves inwardly.

At the loading station, an accumulated material supporting plate H3 is provided, the same forming a continuation of the runway platform 2. Said supporting plate H3 is of relatively thin material, and its free end is preferably slightly.

upturned and spaced over a cutaway marginal portion of the platform 61 so as to provide an envelope flap receiving space II4 (see Fig. 2). Extending between the inward side of said supporting plate II3 and the lower end of the envelope magazine 68 is a wire guide piece 5. It will be remembered that, as the envelope is extracted from the magazine 68 by the above-described pneumatic extracting means, the jet or blast of air from the nozzle 86 turns outwardly the flap of the extracted envelope to extended open position. When the envelope gripping and conveying means above described engages and conveys the envelope outwardly to dispose the same opposite the loading station L, the open envelope flap will pass beneath the wire guide piece I I5 so as toibe guided thereby to pass beneath the free marginal portion of the supporting plate I I3.

The means for preparing the envelope and the accumulated material preparatory to the insertion of the latter into the former comprises the following devices. Means is provided for aligning the superimposed items making up the ac-' cumulated material desired to be inserted in the envelope, whereby the superimposed items are properly registered together against a longitudinal guide-lip 6 which borders the outer side of the runway platform 2 and the supporting plate extension H3 thereof. This means comprises a push-piece II'l arranged to move laterally across the supporting plate II3 from the inner side thereof to engage the inner ends of the accumulated material deposited on the latter and thereupon thrust the same outwardly into abutment with the guide-lip IIB. This pushpiece II! is pivotally connected with the end of an upper arm of an actuating. lever II8, which moves through a slot in the supporting. plate I I3 and which is in turn pivoted upon a fulcrum pin.

II9 carried by a depending supporting bracket I20, a spring means I2I being employed to induce the operative outwardly swinging stroke of the lever H8 and the push-piece II I carried thereby. A rotatable cam I 22 operated by the drive shaft I0 engages the lower arm of said lever I I8 to retract the same and the push-piece to normal initial inactive position. Preferably the lower arm of said lever H8 is provided with an antifriction roller I23 with which said cam engages.

. Means are provided for regulating the operative stroke of the lever I I8 and push-piece III, which is also capable of rendering these parts entirely inactive should it be so desired. This means comprises an adjustable slotted stop-plate I24 slidable on a stud I25 carried by the bracket I20. The stop-plate I24 is provided at its lower end with a stop-projection I26 engageable by a stoppin I21 carried by the upper arm of said lever I I8.

The stop-plate I24 is adjusted longitudinally by an adjusting screw I28 mounted in a bearing I29, said screw having a threaded engagement with a nut-piece I30 with which the upper end of said stop-plate is provided. Downward adjustment of the stop-plate I24 spaces the stop-projection I26 from the stop-pin I21 at such regulated distance as will arrest movement of the lever I I8 and pushpiece II! at the end of a desired predetermined extent of movement, according to the length of material to be aligned. If the stop-plate I24 is adjusted upwardly far enough to abut the stopprojection I26 against the stop-pin I21 when the lever H8 and push-piece II I is fully retracted, it will be obvious that when the lever H8 is released from the retracting high portion of the cam I22, the lever I I0 will be restrained from any movement under the urge of the spring HI, and consequently the lever I I8 and push-piece I I! will remain inactive. The above will be best understood from an inspection of Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings.

Means is provided for holding open the mouth of the envelope preparatory to insertion of accumulated material thereinto. This means-comprises a pair of lift-blades I3I, preferably made of thin resilient metal, the rear ends of which are pivotally connected with the lower ends of lever arms I32 which are'afiixed to and dependent from a transverse rock-shaft I33 suitably supported above the runway platform 2. Connected with the rocking fulcrum shaft I34 which pivots the lever members 40 which oscillate upon rise and fall of the trackway plate 39, is a lever arm I35. This lever arm I35 is interconnected by a link I36 with a corresponding lever arm I31 aflixed to the rock-shaft I33. In operation as the trackway plate rises, the rocking fulcrum shaft I34 imparts an upswinging motion to the lever arm I35 which is transmitted through the link I35 and lever arm I31 to the rock-shaft I33, thus swinging forward the lever arms I32, and thereby imparting an outward sliding motion to the lift-blades I 3 I thus causing the latter to enter the open mouth of the awaiting envelope adjacent to each end of the latter, and thus upwardly distending said envelope mouth. It will be understood that these operations are so timed as to occur between the time the envelope is positioned to receive insertions and the time of the actual advance of the accumulated material for insertion thereinto. In order to assure the proper entrance of the lift-blades into the envelope, an air nozzle I38, supplied from the pump I9, is provided and so located as to direct a jet or blast of air toward the deposited envelope mouth, thereby distending the latter sufficiently to assure unobstructed entrance of the lift blades thereinto. After the material is inserted a reversal of the above described operations occurs, whereby the lift blades I3I are retracted, preparatory to the discharge of the filled envelope.

It is often desirable to employ the so-called window envelopes, which possess an apertured front, covered by a ply or panel of transparent material glued to the inside face of such apertured front. This inner ply or panel may obstruct smooth and uncrumpled entrance of accumulated material into the envelope interior, and to avoid this, means is provided to guide the entering material over such ply or panel. This means comprises a flat strip of springy metal forming a guide tongue I39. This guide tongue I39 has one end portion aflixed to a winding drum I40, and the latter is yieldably connected through the medium of a coupling spring I with the upper arm I42 of an oscillatable lever means I42 for actuating the drum. Timed oscillation of the lever means I42, through a link I43, which interconnects said lever means I42 with an actuating lever I44 aflixed on and operated by said rocking fulcrum shaft I34 of the raising and lowering means of said trackway plate 39. After the envelope is positioned for the reception of inserted material and before the initiation of the inserting movement, the drum I40 is rotated anticlockwise, such rotation projecting forwardly and into the envelope the free end portion of said guide tongue I39, so that the same covers the transparent panel of the envelope in such manner as to guide the entering material smoothly thereover. If the guide tongue extremity should abut the closed bottom of the envelope, the spring I4I will permit yielding play between the thus obstructed tongue drum and actuating means therefor, so that no injury is done to the envelope by said entered guide tongue. The operation of this arrangement is so timed, that a reverse clockwise winding rotation is imparted to the drum I40 by the actuating means before the filled envelope is discharged and while the propulsion devices of the material accumulating means are being retracted, thereby withdrawing the guide tongue I39 from the envelope interior, and thus preventing the guide tongue from obstructing discharge movement of the filled envelope.

The general operation of the machine will be understood from the above description; it remains now to describe the various devices which serve to automatically stop the machine under various conditions so that proper accumulation of the desired material is assured without risk of missing items making up the collection; so that stopping of the machine occurs upon exhaustion of material from any given feed magazine; and so that stopping of the machine occurs after the filling of a predetermined number of envelopes has been accomplished. The mechanisms for these various operations will be understood from the following description and from an inspection of the wiring diagram showing the main power circuit and controls furnished by Fig. 18 of the drawings.

The electric power motor I2, which operates the main drive shaft I0, from which the envelope and material handling devices of the machine are actuated (excepting the continuously running delivery rolls serving the several material magazines), is served by a main power circuit leading from a source of electrical energy, said circuit comprising the positive or incoming line A and the negative or outgoing line B. One of said lines, as e. g. the outgoing line B includes a solenoid actuated main circuit make'and break switch, the actuating solenoid of which functions, through various controlling shunt circuits and their circuit closing devices, to open the main circuit make and break switch, and thus interrupt the main power circuit to automatically stop the operation of the machine under various conditions. The main circuit make and break switch comprises a fixed contact I45 and a movable contact I46, the latter being carried on a pivoted arm I41. The pivoted arm I4! is provided with a lever extension I48 projecting from its pivoted end, and is further provided, at its opposite end, with a hand lever extension I49. Suitably mounted in operative relation to said main circult make and break switch is the actuating solenoid I50, to the frame of which is pivotally connected a lever I5I to which the armature I52 of the solenoid is connected. Operatively interconnecting said lever I5I and the lever extension I48 of the pivoted main switch arm I41, is a link I53.

The automatic stopping of the machine, either by reason of exhaustion of material from any given magazine, or by reason of failure of delivery of an item thereof from any given magazine, comprises the following devices:

Associated with each set of delivery rolls, which are cooperative with the respective magazines, are a pair of resilient contact blades I54 and I55, so arranged that their free end portions are disposed one above the other and normally converge upon and contact one with the other substantially in the plane of the nip of said delivery rolls, and preferably at or somewhat outwardly of the nip point thereof. The upper contact blade I54 is suitably affixed to the housing 22, but in insulated relation thereto. Pivotally mounted in connection with bearing knuckles I56 depending from the underside of a ledge piece I51, with whichthe housing 22 is provided and which lies behind the delivery rolls, is an oscillatable block I58 to which the lower contact blade I55 is affixed.

Extending rearwardly from said block I58 is a' lever arm I59 operatively engageable by the camportion 2| of the ejector wheel means I5. The contact blades I54-I55, serving the several material magazines andtheir delivery rolls, are connected in parallel in a shunt or control circuit which includes and controls operation'of the main circuit make and break switch actuating solenoid I50. In series with said contact blade sets is an auxiliary rotary timed make and break means. This auxiliary timed make and break means comprises a rotatable contact wheel which is affixed to and driven by the driven shaft I3 in timed relation to the operation of the ejector wheel means I5. This wheel preferably comprises a body of insulating material I60 having a peripheral electrically conductive contact rim I6I from which extends over a side face of the insulating body I60 a radial contact branch I62. Cooperative with said contact rim I6I is a contact brush I63. Cooperative with the side face of the insulative body I60 and the contact branch I62 associated therewith is a contact brush I63. The shunt or control circuit in which the above described devices are included preferably comprises an ingoing line I64 connected with a source of electrical energy, as e. g. by connection with the incoming line A of the main circuit, and a parallel line I65 leading to the contact brush I63 of the timed make and break means, the circuit continuing from the other contact brush I63 through the outgoing line I66 to one pole of the solenoid I50, and then from the other pole of the latter on through the line I61, which is joined to the outgoing line B of the main circuit, preferably through a manually operable switch C. The contact blade sets I54-I55 are connected in parallel between the lines I64 and I65. The contact blades I54 being connected by branches I64 to line I64, and the contact blades I55 being connected by branches I65 to the line I65. Preferably the respective branches I64 are respectively provided with push-plug disconnectors I64". so that when the use of any given magazine and its material feeding mechanism is not needed and is therefore desired to be discontinued, separation of the push-plug disconnector thereof will discontinue the functioning of the corresponding set of contact-blades I54-I55. If desired the control circuit may be provided witha manually operable switch I68.

wheel means I5, which is driven by shaft I3, operates to move items from the ma azines. the cams 2I will engage the lever arms I59. thereby upswinging the latter and consequently downswinging the contact blades I55, thus separating the latter from the blades I54 until the ejected onto the runway platform 2.

items are moved into the nip of the delivery rolls 2I2829 and thereupon delivered outwardly By the time the items are engaged by the delivery rolls, the advancing movement of the ejector wheel means I5 has carried the cams 2| beyond the lever arms I59, which therefore drop back to normal position thus again raising the contact blades I55 in position 'to engage the contact blades I54. If an item is passing through the delivery rolls at this moment, however, the same will intervene between the contact blades I54-I55 and will prevent the same from closing the control circuit at the moment when such circuit is otherwise mo mentarily closed by the meeting of the contact branch I62 with the contact brush I63 of the timed rotary make and break means; such meeting being timed by the, rotation of the body I60 to take place just following the engagement of the item by the delivery rolls; and immediately following the return of the contact blades I54- I55 to engaging position. As a consequenceof this the control circuit remains interrupted, and it will be obvious that so long as items are prop erly fed successively from all the magazines, there can occur no closing of the blade contacts simultaneously with the closing of the auxiliary rotary make and break contacts, and therefore the solenoid I50 is not energized to open the main circuit switch, and the machine will run continuously in the performance of its functions. If, however, the ejector wheel means I5 of any functioning magazine, fails to deliver an item to the delivery rolls serving such magazine, the release of the contact-blade I55 by its controlling cam 2| will permit such contact-blade I55 to makecontact with the contact-blade I54, which contact will continue until the contact branch I62 is carried into engagement with the contact brush I63, whereupon the breaks in the control circuits are both bridged simultaneously, and energizing cur rent is thereupon delivered through the solenoid I50. When the solenoid I50 is thus energized, its armature I52 is pulled downward, and this motion thereof is transmitted through the link and leverage connections to the movable contact I46 of the main circuit switch, whereby the latter is separated from the fixed contact I45 and said main circuit supplying the motor I2 with operating current is interrupted and the motor stops, thereby arresting further operation of the machine, until the fault in delivery of materialfrom the inoperative magazine is cured, and the machine is again started by closin the main circuit switch, which is done by manually lifting the hand lever extension I49 of the movable contact carrying arm I41. The automatic stopp ng of the machine thus accomplished on failure of pro er delivery of items from anv one or more of the magazines, also occurs, through the same action above described. if such failure is dueto exhaustion of material from any magazine.

The machine of this invention is frequently used for enclosing'in envelopes dividend checks or other items of special 'value to ether with additional items, such as notices, receipt forms.

proxies or the like. In connection with such use. it is of great importance to guard against accidental or inadvertent delivery by any single delivery impulse. of more than one of such valuable items. Additional means have therefore been devised for association with the magazineand delivery means therefor from which such valuable items are to be discharged. This means is shown in the present instance in connection with only one magazine, but it will be obvious that the same could be provided in connection with more than one or even all of the magazines, if it should be so desired. As herein shown this means comprises a vertical guide bracket I69, which is affixed to the housing 22 in front of a selected material magazine, and in which is mounted, for vertical adjustment, a supporting plate I10 upon which is rotatably mounted a trip Wheel I1I disposed in opposed relation to a portion of the driven bottom delivery roll 21 serving said selected magazine. Connected with the upper end of said supporting plate I10 is a lateral angular extension I12, to which is rotatably affixed an adjusting screw I13, the threaded shank of which engages a stationary nut-member I14; all whereby the supporting plate I10 may be raised or lowered relative to the delivery roll 21, so as to space the trip wheel from the latter a distance sufficient to give clearance for the passage of a single item ejected from the magazine, but insufficient to pass more than one such item at a time without actuating said trip wheel. Said trip-wheel is normally but yieldably held in a normal initial position by spring means I15, such position being determined by a stop-pin I16 with which a side of the trip-wheel is provided, and which is adapted to abut an edge of said supporting plate I10. Said trip wheel I1I is provided with trip pin I11 projecting radially. from its periphery. Suitably mounted in connection with the housing 22, in back of said trip wheel IN, on an insulating block I18, are a pair of normally separated yieldable contact members I19 and I80. ably connected in a shunt circuit which also includes the main switch actuating solenoid I50. For example, such connection may be made by a lead I8I extending from said ingoing line I64, connected with the main circuit input line A, to the contact member I19, and by a line I82 leading from the contact member I to connect with the line I66 which supplies the solenoid field winding, the circuit being completed from the solenoid through the line I61, which is joined to the output main circuit line B, as already above described. In operation, when a single item is ejected from the magazine by the ejector wheel I5, and fed by the latter to the nip of the delivery rolls, such single item will be engaged and discharged by the latter through the clearance space between the bottom roll 21 and said trip wheel I1I, without imparting any motion to the latter. If, however, two or more such items happen to be forwarded to the nip of the delivery rolls, the additional thickness of material will not clear the trip wheel, and consequently the periphery of the latter will be so engaged that rotative movement will be applied thereto. Such rotation of the trip-wheel I1I will carry its trip pin II1 into engagement with the contact member I80, whereby the latter is moved into circuit closing engagement with the contact member I19, thus delivering energizing current to the solenoid I50 so that the latter is caused to open the main circuit make and break switch I45-I46, thus stopping the motor I2- and consequently arresting the operation of the machine. The activity of the machine being thus stopped, the operator may remove the excess items, and thereupon restart the machine by actuating the closing lever of the main circuit make and break switch. In order to prevent restarting of the machine until the operator has removed the excess items from the delivery rolls, a means is provided for locking the ip wheel I1I in actuating relation to the con- These contact members are suit tacts I19-I80 so as to hold the solenoid I50 in main circuit switch opening condition, such means comprising a pivoted lock-lever I83, having a latch-piece I84 which rides on the periphery of the trip-wheel I1I. Said lock-lever I83 and its latch-piece I84 is yieldably urged toward the trip-wheel I1I by spring means I85. Formed in the periphery of the trip-wheel I1I is a locknotch I86, which, when the trip-wheel is turned to the position at which the contact members I19-I80 are closed, is registered beneath the latch-piece I84 which drops thereinto thus holding the trip-wheel against retraction by its spring to normal contact member releasing position. If desired, a signal means may be provided adapted to be actuated by the locking movement of said lock-lever I83, whereby the machine attendant is notified that the machine is stopped by reason of the attempted accidental delivery of more than one item. This signal means comprises any suitable electrically actuated signal device, such e. g. as a signal lamp I81, the circuit of which is controlled by a pair of normally open contact elements I88 and I89, which are adapted to be moved together to circuit closing relation by a portion I90 of the lock-lever I83. The lock-lever I83 is provided with a finger-piece I9I,whereby the same may be manually returned to normal initial position wherein the trip-wheel I1I is released from the restraint thereof.

An alternative to the means for guarding against issue of envelopes containing an excess of items, especially in cases where one or more of such items are of a valuable character, may comprise a means somewhat similar to that above described, but designed to be located in the path of discharge of the filled envelopes, subject to actuation by any filled envelope containing an excess of items over and above the normal assembly or aggregation thereof. One illustrative form of this alternative means is shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings, and comprises a trip-wheel I92 which is mounted on a supporting bracket I93 pivotally affixed to the abutment plate 69 which borders the platform 61, and vertically adjustable whereby said trip-wheel I92 may be disposed in spaced relation to said platform 61, over which the filled envelopes pass, so predetermined as to give clearance to filled envelopes of normal thickness, as the same are moved outwardly for discharge into the receptacle R. Said trip wheel I92 is geared to a rotatable disc I84 also carried by said bracket I93. Said disc I94 is provided with a stop notch I95 in its periphery adapted to cooperate with a stop pin I96 carried by the bracket I93. Said disc I94 carries a contact element I95 movable into engagement with a stationary contact element I96. The trip-wheel I92 and disc I94 geared thereto are yieldably held in normal contact separating position by spring means I91. The contact elements I95 and I96 are electrically connected in a shunt circuit (not shown) which serves the actuating solenoid I50 for controlling the opening of the main circuit make and break switch, said circuit being substantially of the same character and relation to the other circuits as that above described in which the contact members I19I 80 are connected. In operation, if a filled envelope is of abnormal thickness, due to insertion therein of excess material, then, as it is propelled outwardly for discharge into receptacle R, it will engage and rotate the trip-wheel I92, thus causing the contact elements I95f-I96' to be engaged in circuit closing relation so as to deliver energizing current to the solenoid I50, thereby opening the main circuit make and break switch and stopping the machine, as will be understood.

In the use of the machine, it is sometimes desirable to stop the operation of the machine when a predetermined number of envelopes have been filled, ase. g. a batch of fllledenvelopes intended for one postal destination. This maybe accomplished in alternative ways. Either by providing means operative to stop the machine when a predetermined number 01' envelopes have been taken from the envelope magazine, or when apredetermined number of insertion assemblies have been delivered to the loadingstation L. The machine may be provided with means operative by either or both of these methods; the first method also being available for use in stopping the machine a when a given supply of envelopes stacked in the envelope storage magazine 58 is exhausted. The means operative in connection with the envelope feeding mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart stationary contact points I98 and I99 which are fixed in a common horizontal plane in connection with platform 61 beneath the envelope storage magazine 08. These contact points pro vide an open gap normally interrupting a shunt circuit including the main switch actuating sole-,

nold I50; said circuit e. g. comprising an ingoing line 200 extending from the incoming line A of the main circuit, and being connected by a lead 20! to one of the contact points, as I98, and continuing from the other contact point I 99 through a lead 202 connected with a line 203 which supplies the solenoid field winding, the circuit being completed from the solenoid through the line I61, which is joined to the output main circuit line B as already above described. Means are provided to electrically bridge the gap provided by the spaced contact points l98|99. This means comprises a contact bearing dummy piece 204,

such as a cardboard member, or other electrically non-conductive carrier, to which is secured a metallic contact strip 205. Such dummy pieces 204 may be inserted in the envelope magazine between lots of the envelopes containing a desired predetermined number. After. the last envelope from a given lot is withdrawn from the magazine, a contact bearing dummy piece 204 will be engaged by the suction head and withdrawn from the magazine, and then carried to the platform 61 and deposited over the contact points I98 and I99, in such manner that the metallic contact strip 205 will bridgethe gap between the latter, thus closing a circuit which energizes the solenoid I50 to open the main circuit make and break switch so as to stop operation of the machine.

A similar means is provided in connection with the insertion assembly delivering means, the same comprising a pair of contact points 206 and 201 which are fixed in the runway 2 at the loading station L. These contact points also provide an open gap normally interrupting a shunt circuit including the main switch actuating solenoid I50; said circuit e. g. comprises the described ingoing line 200 extending from the incoming line of the main circuit, and being connected by a lead 200 to the contact point 206, and continuing from the other contact point 201 through a lead 209 connected to the line 203 to the solenoid I50, the circuit being completed as above described. Contact bearing dummy pieces 204-205 may be fed 9 thus completing the circuit to energize the solenoid I50, ation in the manner. already above described.

As many changes could be made in the above described constructions and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a plurality of magazines to hold supplies of insertion items, a collecting runway toreceive items from-said magazines, driven. delivery rolls between said magazines and said runy;

and thereupon stop the machine operejector wheels having segmental frictional facings for withdrawing items from said magazines and advancing the same to the delivery rolls, electric motor driven transmission means for actuating the machine, said transmission means including a shaft for actuating said ejector wheels, means for driving said delivery rolls at a greater surface speed than that of said ejector wheels, lost motion driving connections between said ejector wheels and the actuating shaft therefor, a power circuit supplying said motor, a main manually closed switch in said power circuit, electro-magnetic means for opening said main switch, a control circuit for energizing said main switch opening means,. a mechanically driven timed make and break means in said control circuit operated by the actuating shaft for said ejector wheels, additional make and break means in series with said timed make and break means, said additional make and break means being disposed in the path of movement of items from the magazines to the delivery rolls, and

. means operative in conjunction with said ejector wheels for temporarily opening said additional make and break means for the passage of items to and engagement thereof by said delivery rolls, said additional make and break means being adapted to close on failure of movement of items from any magazine to delivery rolls, whereupon completion of the closing of said control circuit by said timed make and break means in turn operates said main switch opening means to interrupt the power circuit and stop the machine.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a plurality of magazines to hold supplies of insertion items, a collecting runway to receive items from said magazines, driven delivery rolls between said magazines and said run- Way, ejector wheels having segmental frictional facings for withdrawing items from said magazines and advancing the same to the delivery 7 in said control circuit operated by the actuating shaft for said ejector wheels, additional make and break means in series parallel with said timed make and break means, said additional make and break means being disposed in the path of movement of items from the magazines to the delivery rolls,- each said additional make and break means comprising a stationary contact blade and a movable contact blade between which items move to said delivery rolls, means for moving said movable contact blade into and out of contact with said stationary contact blade, and cam means operative with the ejector wheels for controlling the movements of said movable contact blade, whereby said contact blades engage upon failure of movement of items from any magazine to the delivery mils, whereupon completion of the closing of said control circuit by said timed make and break means in turn operates said main switch opening means to interrupt the power circuit and stop the machine.

3. In a machine of the class described having means to withdraw items from supply magazines including driven delivery rolls, an electric motor driven transmission means for actuating the machine and a power circuit supplying said motor including a manually closed main switch and electro magnetic means for opening said main switch, a control circuit including said opening means, and control circuit closing means associated with at least one magazine and operative on simultaneous advancement to the delivery rolls cooperative with said magazine of more than one of the items from the latter, whereby said opening means is energized to open said main switch and thus stop the machine, said control circuit closing means comprising a pair of normally separated contact members, a rotatable trip wheel having contact engaging means cooperative with a driven roll of said delivery rolls and operative upon the entrance of a plurality of items between said driven roll and said trip wheel to rotate the latter and carry its contact engaging means into closing relation to said separated contact members, and means for adjusting said trip wheel in spaced relation to the driven delivery roll to provide clearance space for the passage of a normally constituted insertion item in non-actuating relation to the trip wheel.

4. In a machine of the class described having means to withdraw items from supply magazines including delivery rolls, an electric motor driven transmission means for actuating the machine and a power circuit supplying said motor including a manually closed main switch and electromagnetic means for opening said main switch, a control circuit including said opening means, and control circuit closing means associated with at least one magazine and operative on simultaneous advancement to the delivery rolls cooperative with said magazines of more than one of the items from the latter, whereby said opening means is energized to open'said main switch and thus stop the machine, said control circuit .closing means comprising a pair of normally separated contact members, a rotatable trip wheel having contact engaging means cooperative with a driven roll of said delivery rolls and operative upon the entrance of a plurality of items between said driven roll and said trip wheel to rotate the latter and carry its contact engaging means into closing relation to said separated contact members, means for adjusting said trip wheel in spaced relation to the driven delivery roll to provide clearance space for the passage of a normally constituted insertion item in nonactuating relation to the trip wheel, and releasable means for locking said trip wheel in actuated closing relation to said contact members.

5. In a machine for delivering and collecting a plurality of insertions from a series of magazines to form successive assemblies thereof and to deliver envelopes for reception of said assem- 1 the loading platform into awaiting envelopes,

electric motor driven means for operating the machine including said collecting and insertion means, a power circuit supplying said motor, a manually closed main switch in said power circuit, electrical means for opening said main switch, a normally interrupted control circuit serving said main switch opening means, a pair of spaced gap forming contact points in said control circuit mounted in and exposed at the surface of said loading platform, and a gap bridging means adapted to be associated with selected assembly forming items so as to be removed from the containing magazine and advanced by said collecting means under predetermined selective conditions to said loading platform, and thereby into bridging relation to said gap forming contact points to close said control circuit whereby said main switch opening means is energized to open said main switch and thus stop the machine.

6. In a machine for delivering and collecting a plurality of insertions from a series of magazines to form successive assemblies thereof and to deliver envelopes for reception of said assemblies and thereupon insert the latter into the envelopes, a loading platform upon which collected assemblies are successively deposited, an envelope supporting platform extending transversely adjacent to the discharge end of said loading platform, an envelope magazine having its bottom end spaced above said supporting platform, vertically reciprocable pneumatic suction means adapted to successively engage and withdraw envelopes from the bottom of said envelope magazine to deposit the same on said supporting platform, pneumatic means to open the flaps of the thus withdrawn and deposited envelopes, means reciprocally movable relative to said supporting platform adapted to engage and move the deposited open envelope along said supporting platform into insertion assembly receiving relation to said loading platform, and means to guide the open envelope flap beneath the discharge end of said loading platform.

'7. In a machine for delivering and collecting a plurality of insertions to form successive assemblies thereof and to deliver envelopes for reception of said assemblies and thereupon insert the assemblies into the envelopes and then discharge filled envelopes from the machine, electric motor driven means for operating the machine, a power circuit supplying said motor, a main switch in said power circuit, elecn-ical means for actuating said main switch, a control circuit including said actuating means, and control circuit closing means mounted in the path of movement of filled envelopes from the machine and operative by engagement of envelopes containing an excess of inserted material, whereby said main switch actuating means is enera plurality of insertions from a series of magazines to form successive assemblies thereof and to deliver envelopes for reception of said assemblies and thereupon insert the latter into the envelopes, a collecting runway to receive items from the magazines. a loading platform having a lip to overlie an open envelope flap stationed at the discharge end of, said platform, means cooperative with said runway for collecting the items step by step and thereupon delivering assemblies thereof successively upon said platform, insertion means for moving the assemblies from the loading platform into awaiting envelopes, a lift-blade means movable into the awaiting envelope mouth to hold the same open and to guide assemblies thereinto as advanced by said insertion means. a flexible guide tongue means movable beneath the platform and thence into an awaiting envelope to extend over a window panel with which the latter may be provided, a winding drum by which said tongue is manipulated. timed means for actuating said drum to project and retract said tongue, and a yieldable operating connection between said latter means and said drum.

9. In a machine for delivering and collecting a plurality of insertions from a series of magazines to form successive assemblies thereof and to deliver envelopes for reception of said assemblies and thereupon insert the latter into the envelopes, a collecting runway to receive items from the magazine, a loading platform having a lip to overlie an open envelope flap stationed at the discharge end of said platform, means cooperative with said runway for collecting items step by step and thereupon delivering assemblies thereof upon said platform, a lateral stop bordering said platform, means cooperative with said stop to align the items of theassemblies delivered upon said platform preparatory to insertion into awaiting envelopes, insertion means for moving the assemblies from the platform into the envelopes, lift-blade means movable into the awaiting envelope mouth to hold the same open and to guide assemblies thereinto when advanced by said insertion means, a flexible guide tongue means movable beneath the platform and thence into an awaiting envelope to extend over a window panel with which the latter may be provided, a winding drum by which said tongue is manipulated, timed means for actuating said drum to project and retract said tongue, and a yieldable operating connection between the latter means and said drum.

10. In a machine of the class described as defined in claim 9, an air jet discharge means to distend the awaiting envelope mouth subject to the entrance of said lift-blade'means; thereinto.

11. In a machine of the class described as defined in claim 8, an air jet discharge means to distend the awaiting envelope mouth subject to the entrance of said lift-blade means thereinto.

' EDWARD}. D0 

